Genre
Horror
Setting and Context
Cold Mountain Penitentiary in 1932 and Georgia Pines nursing home 1996
Narrator and Point of View
Paul Edgecombe narrates the story from the first person
Tone and Mood
Magical, violent, dark, and chaotic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Paul Edgecombe is the protagonist and Percy Wetmore is the antagonist
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the novel surrounds John Coffey: the truth about his case and the moral dilemma this creates for the guards.
Climax
The climax of the novel is when Percy kills Wharton.
Foreshadowing
From the beginning there is foreshadowing that something terrible happens at Delacroix's execution.
Understatement
Allusions
Imagery
Delacroix's execution is described with vivid and horrifying imagery.
Paradox
John Coffey is a large and outwardly intimidating man and yet, he is afraid of the dark.
Parallelism
There are many parallels drawn between Brad Dolan and Percy Wetmore in regards to their personailties and treatment of others.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Personification
The inmates personify the electric chair by calling it "Old Sparky."
